[4 Feb 2025 to 28 Feb 2026, University of the Philippines, Diliman]
A friend said, I make art like Olympics, only every 4 years! This is almost precise. My last artwork was "Music for 1000 Bicycles," which came out in 2021. (I was only partially a participating artist and more the curator for "Atang," 2022, 2023 and 2024 are all curatorial projects).
Anyway, art don’t just happen to me. It is a very long complex process, comprised of networks that are seemingly disparate. Art is when they or some of them come together.
Also, I am still and primarily a curator. Making art, myself, informs my curatorial practice. Jokingly, I said whenever I make art is when I remember why I prefer to be a curator. But seriously, I think, being able to make art, makes me a more effective curator. (Much so that having practice in art, makes me more effective as a teacher/ scholar in the arts).
So, here's the latest...
I am part of this project called Diliman Arts and Culture Festival 2025. It is an annual festival at the University of the Philippines Diliman Campus. (Atang was part of this too).
When I was asked by OICA Director to do a piece for DACF, I knew I had to say no because I don’t have the financial capacity (my funds have been scheduled, and I have trouble working with the reimbursement system in UP), and I do not exactly have the physical energy to work on a potentially big task.
But the nodes of the network said go… meaning, I had an artwork in mind that’ll fit the project, that’s already almost fully-formed, at least in my head. So, I accepted.
And this is my work...
Launch/ activation performance on 4 Feb 2025, 4PM, University Amphitheater.
Work on display until 18 June 2025.
Future activations to be announced via OICA Facebook and here.
Special thanks to OICA Director Monica Santos and team, DACF Exhibit Curator Mark Louie Lugue and team, DACF Launch Artistic Director Roselle Pineda and team, Dean Marc San Valentin, Department of Theory Chair May Lyn Cruz, Diego Imao, Tito dela Peña, Jezzel Wee, Marco Rosario, Reynel dela Rosa, Allan Flormata, Robbie Salas, Gabriel Christopher Mag-Iba, Jaqiri Sierra, Wika Nadera, Eirhon Jan Palugod, Oey Mirabueno, Kurt Malaya Ballesteros, Jouie Anne Reyes, James Arley Malanog, Penuel Jim Anoche, Dale Marcus Domingo, John Michael Ramos, Althea Linelle Domngal, Alyssa Nicole Banayos, James Gazmin, Hiroki Nagai, Ben Velasco, Toym Imao, Millet Yulo, Imao Studio, UP Diliman College of Fine Arts Ceramics Studio, UP Diliman College of Fine Arts FabLab.
Extra thanks for the inspiration, Prof. Prospero Cover ("Dalumat sa Pagkataong Pilipino"), NAA Jose Maceda ("Pagsamba"), and Yoko Ono ("Mend Pieces").